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Cutting curved glass

Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:39 pm
by Nicole Hanna
This has nothing to do with fusing, but I'm wondering if any of you would know how to cut a hole in the side of a large glass bottle....think terrariums in the 70's.I have a client who found an old glass water bottle and wants to make a terrarium out of it. I have googled everything and can't find anything on how it could be done. Could it be sandblasted? Laser cut? Drilled with a core bit? I know it's out of my league to even try it, but I don't know what to even suggest to them of where they could take it.
Thanks!

Re: Cutting curved glass

Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 11:41 pm
by Barbara Elmore
I have seem some bottles that were cut with a tile saw at the shoulders, in line with the n/s axis of the bottle. You can cut as little or as much as you want. I would mark off the area first with a paint pen. A diamond bit of an inch or more cut under water would also work. Just remember that bottle glass was made for a one time use, and there are thick and thin places you need to avoid (if you can find them!).

Re: Cutting curved glass

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:56 am
by Tony Smith
Sandblasting would be easy, you just need to put something in the bottle to keep the abrasive from hitting the opposite side when you break through.

A core drill would also work if you could totally submerge the bottle in water.

Tony

Re: Cutting curved glass

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 9:45 am
by Tom Fuhrman
Use a core drill and make sure the bottle is very tightly secured. have a water spray quenching it as you do it. after you have a hole ,you can make it bigger if you desire by using a grinding bit in a Dremel or drill from a traditional stained glass grinder and slowly enlarge the hole and bevel the sharp edges.

Re: Cutting curved glass

Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 6:43 pm
by Nicole Hanna
Thanks for the replies everyone. I was thinking a core bit would be the best, but as you say, needs to be well secured and all...it's a BIG bottle! At least I have something to tell this person. I might try it on a smaller bottle first and see if I can do that, then maybe....naw, I really don't want to mess with this! :lol:
Thanks again!
N.

Re: Cutting curved glass

Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:36 pm
by AndyT
Just make a clay dam around where you want to drill, put in some water and use a core bit.